HWS Theatre Box Office
HWS Theatre productions, tickets and information
Ubu the King
October 29-31, 2026
by Ingrid Keenan
Adapted from the play by Alfred Jarry
Directed by H. May
Grotesque farce explores tyranny, greed and the effects of unchecked power.
Directed by Professor of Theatre H. May, Ubu the King will open HWS Theatre’s 2026-27 season, themed around tyrants, with performances Thursday and Friday, Oct. 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 31 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. in McDonald Theatre of the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts. In keeping with the transgressive spirit of Ubu the King, audiences are encouraged to come in costume to the Halloween evening performance.
Edvard Munch painted The Scream in 1893. Three years later, French playwright Alfred Jarry unleashed another kind of howl with Ubu the King, a grotesque farce that skewers tyranny, greed and the abuse of power. This fall, HWS Department of Theatre brings a fresh take on Jarry’s provocative classic to the stage, featuring a new translation by HWS’ Ingrid Keenan.
Tickets for all HWS Theatre productions are free (donations accepted) and should be reserved through this page. Tickets are made available 1-2 weeks prior to opening night. Online ticket reservations close two hours before each performance. Remaining tickets will be available at the Box Office, one hour before each performance. Seating is General Admission. In the event of a “sold-out” performance, a waiting list will be created. (Please note: We have historically had good success seating everyone on the waiting list.)